A wide stone arch frames the view of Piazza San Marco, its dark shadow enclosing the sunlit square beyond. To the right, the tall, slender form of St Mark's Campanile stands prominently, its pale stone surface sharply outlined against the sky. On the left, the long colonnade of the Procuratie stretches into the distance, its repetitive arches and windows rendered with crisp, precise lines.

The light falls from the left, casting long shadows from the columns and figures, and illuminating the architectural details with a soft, silvery clarity. Cool blues and greys dominate the sky and pavement, while ochres and warm tones pick out the stonework and the sunlit faces of the buildings. The brushwork is delicate and controlled, especially in the rendering of architectural ornament and the subtle gradations of shadow under the arcade.

Fine lines describe the windows and moldings, while broader, smoother strokes evoke the expanse of sky and the worn surfaces of the piazza. The scene is arranged with mathematical precision, the strong verticals of the columns and campanile balanced by the horizontal sweep of the Procuratie and the rhythmic arches of the basilica. On the far right, a solitary figure in a brown coat and black hat sits on a bench, partly in shadow, with a bundle or bag beside him.

The paint handling in the clouds is soft and blended, creating a gentle transition from the blue sky to the grey overcast area above the basilica. Piazza San Marco Looking East from the North-West Corner was painted by Giovanni Antonio Canal, known as Canaletto, in 1758. The subject is a celebrated view of Venice, showing the heart of the city with its most iconic monuments: Piazza San Marco, St Mark's Campanile, St Mark's Basilica, and the Procuratie.